Miramar Manager To Stay On Job

The Volusia County Council on Tuesday night rejected in a 4-3 vote a contract to hire Estabrook as county manager. Earlier this month, the council picked Estabrook from four finalists to run the county of 430,000 people north of Orlando.

But when council members considered approving his contract Tuesday night, they changed their minds.

Several said they were concerned about past lawsuits involving Estabrook, and they were not happy with his contract demands.

While some council members complained about the contract, Volusia Council Member Ann McFall said it was the late reports of the problems that swayed her.

"I don't think it's the contract as much as the person," she said. "I've never seen having to do so much damage control for someone who has yet to be hired."

After rejecting Estabrook, the council voted unanimously to try to hire their second choice, Lee Evett, former town manager of Jupiter.

Estabrook on Tuesday night said he had a feeling things weren't going well when he talked to county negotiators Monday.

"I had lost interest yesterday when they started debating the minutiae of the contract," he said Tuesday. "I should have bailed out then."

Problems first surfaced when Estabrook, 52, asked for a $140,000 base salary and perks that the council considered too expensive. They turned down his requests for a $3,000 relocation allowance and automatic longevity incentives. They reduced his severance pay from nine months to six months in case he got fired.

Volusia Council Member Dwight Lewis said he was disillusioned by Estabrook's contract requests. "He was asking for the moon, hoping to get the stars. He alienated the public in this county."

On Monday, Volusia Council Member Joe Jaynes presented media reports he found on Estabrook. One report said Estabrook sued the mayor and four city commission members in Dayton, Ohio, claiming breach of contract after he was fired as city manager.

In settling the suit in 1997, Dayton agreed to pay Estabrook $120,000 and purchase his home.